The Peoples Democratic Party-led Rainbow Coalition in Bayelsa State has unveiled its timetable for mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 general elections.

The coalition said it would activate its grassroots structures across the state’s 105 wards to canvass votes for Tinubu, while urging the All Progressives Congress leadership in Bayelsa to regard it as a partner rather than a political rival.

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The Bayelsa PDP Publicity Secretary, Ikaebimo Mark, announced the timetable in a statement issued on Tuesday. The schedule was signed by the coalition’s State Organising Secretary, T. Godspower.

According to the timetable, activities will begin with three days of fasting, prayers and a solemn assembly from November 5 to 7, followed by a campaign dedication and thanksgiving service on November 8.

The formal commencement of campaign activities is scheduled for November 9.

The activities will include the inauguration of the Bayelsa State Rainbow Coalition Campaign Council, the commissioning of its campaign secretariat and the unveiling of campaign buses reportedly donated by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The coalition also plans to distribute campaign materials, including T-shirts, face caps and banners, across local government areas between November 10 and 15.

Campaign flag-offs and the presentation of flags to candidates in Bayelsa Central, Bayelsa West and Bayelsa East are scheduled to take place between November 17 and 21.

The timetable lists December 12 for the grand finale, when the coalition plans to formally adopt and endorse Tinubu as its presidential candidate.

Reacting to the timetable, Bayelsa PDP leader Chief Alabh Turnah expressed confidence that the coalition would mobilise voters across the state for Tinubu’s re-election and support candidates associated with the alliance.

Turnah described the reported integration of the Rainbow Coalition into Tinubu’s re-election campaign as a strategic political move that could strengthen the President’s prospects across party lines.

He also praised Wike’s reported inclusion in the presidential campaign structure, saying the minister’s political influence could help galvanise support for Tinubu in Bayelsa and other states.

According to Turnah, the coalition would highlight the Tinubu administration’s development agenda, particularly projects executed by the Niger Delta Development Commission in Bayelsa, to persuade voters to support the President.

“President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated pragmatic leadership with the inclusion of our national leader and patron, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, in the national Presidential Campaign Council,” Turnah said.

He added that Wike’s inclusion reflected confidence in the coalition’s ability to mobilise votes across party lines.

“On our part in Bayelsa, we are going to reciprocate President Bola Tinubu’s confidence by mobilising all our members across the 105 wards in the state to deliver massive votes for his re-election,” he said.

Turnah further claimed that the PDP retained the strongest grassroots appeal in Bayelsa and expressed confidence that its supporters would back Tinubu through the Rainbow Coalition platform.

“It is significant to state that there is no other party in Bayelsa that has the grassroots appeal of the PDP. Bayelsans are in love with the PDP, and they are ready to follow us in voting for President Tinubu under the Rainbow Coalition,” he said.

Turnah warned that leaving Tinubu’s re-election campaign entirely in the hands of the Bayelsa APC leadership could undermine the President’s electoral prospects in the state.

“We are aware that it is too risky to leave the re-election of President Tinubu in the hands of the APC leadership in the state because of its lack of grassroots appeal in several of our communities. This is one of the reasons we are taking the lead to kick-start the campaign for President Tinubu’s re-election,” he said.

He nevertheless appealed to the state APC leadership to cooperate with the coalition rather than treat it as an adversary.

“We want to appeal again to the APC leadership not to see us as an adversary but as a partner willing to work hand-in-hand to deliver President Bola Tinubu in Bayelsa State,” Turnah said.

He also urged the APC leadership to demonstrate its commitment to Tinubu’s re-election by working with the coalition against opposition parties.

The planned activities indicate further political mobilisation in Bayelsa ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The PDP-led coalition is positioning itself as a platform for Tinubu’s re-election despite the PDP’s traditional opposition to the APC.

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However, the coalition’s claims about its grassroots strength and ability to deliver votes remain political assertions that will ultimately be tested at the polls.